Reynolds-Maxwell Garden

Reynolds-Maxwell Garden. . , Reynolds-Maxwell Garden , Around 1800, this area of the Blue Fish River was thriving with shipyards, wharves, saw pits, mills and warehouses. By 1900, Duxbury Village (as it was known then) was Duxbury's main commercial district with livery stables, a garage, grocery and general stores and a restaurant., In 1906, Antone P. Lucas (known as Tony) built a house and barber shop at this site. Lucas and his wife, Rebecca Doyle, were both recent immigrants to this country. Lucas was of Portuguese descent, born in the Azores. His wife was from Canada. In addition to running his own business, Lucas was also hired by the Duxbury Rural Society, to operate the locks on the Blue Fish River bridge nearby., From 1910-1950, the Duxbury Rural Society (precursor to the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society) acquired additional marsh parcels in this area and tore down or moved many of the deteriorated Duxbury Village buildings, all part of a larger improvement project for the neighborhood. This piece of property was purchased by the DRHS in 1943 and eventually the Lucas building was moved. It is now situated at 39 Old Cove Road, just down the road from here., The DRHS has partnered with the Duxbury Garden Club since the mid 20th century to care for this garden. In the 1980s, the garden was named in honor of Mrs. Frank (Ella) Maxwell, the first president of the Duxbury Garden Club and the Club's labors continue to be appreciated. In 2018, the DRHS embarked on a major restoration project to restore and raise the sea wall at Maxwell Garden, preventing damage from wash over during high tides and storms. This project was made possible through the generous bequest of Mary Reynolds and with the Garden Club's blessing, the garden was renamed the Reynolds Maxwell Garden. The Reynolds Maxwell Garden is open to the public.